west Scotland
Renfrewshire Schools
Renfrewshire covers Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone and Erskine — a mix of urban and suburban areas close to Glasgow. The council runs around 50 primaries. Renfrewshire is notable for offering a £50 winter top-up on clothing grants for existing claimants, in addition to the standard payment. The council's school finder covers all catchment areas and placing request information is straightforward online.
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£120–£150
Clothing grant
15 March
Placing deadline
West Scotland
Region
Universal
Free meals P1–P5
£30/week
EMA
Find your catchment school in Renfrewshire
Every address in Renfrewshire has a designated catchment primary and secondary school. Your child has the right to attend their catchment school — the council must provide a place. For a different school, submit a placing request by 15 March.
Secondary schools in Renfrewshire
11 publicly funded secondaries, from the Scottish Government school contact list dated 31 January 2026.
| School | Area | Type | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlehead High School | Paisley | Non-denom | PA1 2HL |
| Gleniffer High School | Paisley | Non-denom | PA2 0AG |
| Gryffe High School | Houston | Non-denom | PA6 7EB |
| Johnstone High School | Johnstone | Non-denom | PA5 0JN |
| Linwood High School | Linwood | Non-denom | PA3 3NB |
| Paisley Grammar School | Paisley | Non-denom | PA1 3RP |
| Park Mains High School | Erskine | Non-denom | PA8 6EY |
| Renfrew High School | Renfrew | Non-denom | PA4 0AN |
| St Andrew's Academy | Paisley | RC | PA2 7LG |
| St Benedict's High School | Linwood | RC | PA5 8EX |
| Trinity High School | Renfrew | RC | PA4 8TP |
The honest take on Renfrewshire schools
Renfrewshire covers Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone and Erskine — a mix of urban and suburban areas close to Glasgow. The council runs around 50 primaries. Renfrewshire is notable for offering a £50 winter top-up on clothing grants for existing claimants, in addition to the standard payment. The council's school finder covers all catchment areas and placing request information is straightforward online. Below you’ll find catchment information, placing request links, clothing grant amounts, free school meals eligibility and EMA details — all linking directly to the Renfrewshire website.
Primary
£120
Secondary
£150
Available to families receiving qualifying benefits. No deadline — applications open year-round.
Apply at RenfrewshireUniversal for P1–P5 — no application needed. From P6 onwards, means-tested on qualifying benefits (Universal Credit with earnings under £995/mo, Income Support, etc.).
Even if your child gets universal free meals, apply for the means-tested version — it unlocks the clothing grant and other council support.
Apply at Renfrewshire£30/week
For 16–19 year olds in S5, S6 or college from households with income below £24,421 (one child) or £26,884 (two+). Paid fortnightly to the young person’s own bank account.
Apply for EMAFree transport to your catchment school if the walking distance exceeds:
Primary
2+ miles
Secondary
3+ miles
Additional Support Needs in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire operates a presumption of mainstreaming — most pupils with ASN attend their local school with additional support. The council’s ASN team manages referrals, assessments, and Coordinated Support Plans. If you believe your child needs additional support, contact the school’s Support for Learning teacher as a first step.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about Renfrewshire schools
How do I find my catchment school in Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire provides an online school finder tool on their website where you enter your address or postcode to identify your catchment primary and secondary schools. Every Scottish address has a designated catchment school — if you want a different school, you need to submit a placing request by 15 March.
How much is the school clothing grant in Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire pays £120 per primary pupil and £150 per secondary pupil per school year (confirmed for the current academic year). Apply through the Renfrewshire website — most councils use a combined form for clothing grants and free school meals, so you can apply for both in one go.
What are the school holidays in Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire sets its own school holiday calendar each academic year. Term dates, October break, Christmas, February, Easter and summer holidays all vary by council — they're not the same as England. See our dedicated Renfrewshire school holidays page for the full calendar with downloadable .ics files for Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.
Last updated April 2026.
Clothing grant and free school meals data from Renfrewshire. School transport entitlements follow national statutory distances. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.